Four-high mill frame structure

ABSTRACT

A four-high mill structure, in which each of two oppositely located roller stands is provided with a window having arranged therein a lower mounting member, an upper mounting member, each carrying a supporting roller, and in which each window has a first and second mounting means respectively supporting a first and second working roller means. The first and second mounting means with the working roller means supported thereby are movable from an elevated position representing the working position of the working roller means to a lowered position representing the withdrawal or exchange position for the working roller means. The arrangement is such that in the working position of the working roller means the mounting means therefor are automatically vertically interlocked and in their lowered position are automatically vertically disengaged, but are interlocked in horizontal position and can, together with the working roller means supported thereby, be moved in horizontal direction on rails which are stationarily arranged on the frame structure.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,861,189 Lindermann 45] J 21, 1975 FOUR-HIGH MILL FRAME STRUCTURE Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr [75] Inventor: Herbert Lindermann, Rhinehausen, Attorney Agent or firm-Walter Becker Germany v [57] ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: E Krtpp gesfeuschafl A four-high mill structure, in which each of two oppoesc ran ter a Essen sitely located roller stands is provided with a window Germany having arranged therein a lower mounting member, an [22] Fil d; N 6, 1973 upper mounting member, each carrying a supporting roller, and in which each window has a first and sec- [21] Appl' 4l3236 ond mounting means respectively supporting a first and second working roller means. The first and second [30] F i A li ti P i it D t mounting means with the working roller means sup- 9 1972 Germany 7254735 ported thereby are movable from an elevated position l' representing the working position of the working rol- [52] us CL 72/238 ler means to a lowered position representing the with- [Sl] Int. Cl 31/08 drawal or exchange position for the working mum 58 Field of Search.....................l. lib 38, 239, 237 t?- The arrangement is that l posltron of the working roller means the mounting [56] References Cited Irwin; thgr efcilr1 arle autoimatictally vcrtictally lintolr- 0c e an in eir owere pOSl ion are au oma lca y UNITED STATES PATENTS vertically disengaged, but are interlocked in horizontal Stegef t al. and can together the working roller g' g 2 5/1969 0 Bnen 72/239 means supported thereby, be moved in horizontal digg g gxi rection on rails which are stationarily arranged on the 3,691,809 9/1972 Hlafcsak 72/238 frame structure" 7 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures j 2 w 6 L f 'l l PATENTED I975 3,861,189

SHEET 10F 4 FIG] IPATENTEUJANZ] I975 saw u or 4 FIG-6 lib ' FIG-5 FOUR-HIGH MILL FRAME STRUCTURE The present invention relates to a four-high mill frame structure with two supporting rollers and two working rollers which respectively are journalled in separate mounting members arranged in the roller stand, and with a hydraulic roller feed for which below the lower support roller mounting members there are respectively arranged main working cylinders.

Heretofore known four-high mill frames are equipped with different devices for changing the rollers. For instance, roller changing rails are provided which extend through the windows of the roller stand. The lower working roller mounting members are lowered onto said rails and are movable thereon by means of a carriage system. After the lowering of the lower working roller mounting members, also the upper roller mounting members are lowered and more specifically until they rest on bolts which are movable out of the lower working roller mounting members. The upper roller mounting members will then be suspended below the lower working roller mounting members, locked thereto and together therewith can be moved out of the roller stand. Subsequently, however, for instance in the post-machining of the rollers, it is necessary to disengage the interlocked rollers. This heretofore known arrangement is relatively expensive and complicated and requires an additional operation and axial holding devices and is not quite satisfactory with regard to the safety of operation.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a four-high mill frame structure which will overcome the abovementioned drawbacks and will greatly simplify the entire structure so that without additional auxiliary means a fast and safe roller exchange will be possible and more specifically the unit comprising the working roller mounting members and the working rollers. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the window of a roller stand in milling position.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but with the rollers in position for exchange.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, but with the working roller set moved out.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 with the working roller set in working position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 1 and on its left side shows the two working rollers in their exchange position or in their position of withdrawal.

FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 3.

The four-high mill frame structure according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the working roller mounting members of each frame side are each equipped with two supporting cams which project in and counter to the milling direction and which extend into the range of guiding blocks interconnecting the inner sides of the windows of the stand. The frame structure according to the present invention is furthermore characterized in that when the main working cylinder occupies its milling position the upper working roller mounting members are positively con nected to the lower working roller mounting members, and the lower working roller mounting members are positively connected to the guiding blocks while in roller exchange position with the lower supporting roller mounting members lowered, also the upper working roller mounting members are lowered to a respective lesser extent and in this position all supporting cams rest on a roller exchange rail extending all the way through and located in each guiding block, and are positively interconnected in the horizontal direction, the complete working roller set being movable by means of the working roller mounting members in axial direction of the rollers out of the frame structure. The frame structure according to the invention is furthermore characterized in that the upper and lower working roller mounting members are, with regard to their shape, designed in conformity with each other in such a way that the respective positive connections in the milling position and in the roller exchange position are realized exclusively by a lifting and lowering of the mounting members by means of the hydraulic roller feeding means.

With a design of the above-mentioned type, it is for initiating and completing the roller exchange, in other words for the shift from the milling position to the roller exchange position and vice versa, merely necessary to actuate the roller feeding system. The locking of the respective parts will in both positions be effected automatically when the respective position has been reached. An awkward unlocking of upper and lower rollers in the workshop is no longer necessary. Special safety steps against axial displacements are likewise no longer necessary. In addition to the design of the structural elements in conformity with the present invention it is merely necessary to provide a long stroke of the roller feeding system in order to assure a sufficient lowering of the lower supporting roller and thereby a disengagement from the lower working roller.

It has proved particularly advantageous to provide the guiding blocks with passage grooves in which the supporting cams in the roller exchange position are freely movable in the axial direction of the rollers, and to provide the upper working roller mounting members with additional balancing cams which also in the roller exchange position extend over the guiding blocks.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that in the roller stand window formed on each side of the roller frame structure by a roller stand 1 there are arranged a lower supporting roller mounting member or chock 2, an upper supporting roller mounting member 3, a lower working roller mounting member 4, and an upperworking roller mounting member 5. Journalled in said mounting members are a lower supporting or backup roller 6, an upper supporting roller 7, a lower working roller 8, and an upper working roller 9. A hydraulic roller feeding or adjustment system 10 is located below the lower supporting roller mounting member 2. Connected to the jaws or sides of the window of the stand are two guiding blocks 11 which have passage grooves 12 and support roller exchange rails 13. The lower and the upper working roller mounting members 4 and 5 are provided with supporting cams or arms 14 and 15 which extend into the grooves 12. Furthermore, balancing cams 16 of the upper working roller mounting member 5 extend over the guiding blocks 11. Locking cams 17 on the lower working roller mounting members 4 extend into locking pockets 18 on the upper working roller mounting member 5 and lock the working roller mounting members 4 and 5 in axial direction of the rollers with regard to each other in milling position as well as also in roller exchange position. Locking groove 19, which extends from the middle of the guiding block 11 upwardly to the groove 12 serves for receiving the supporting cam 14 of the lifted lower working roller mounting member 4 and locks the same likewise in axial direction of the rollers with regard to the guiding blocks 11. In each guiding block 11 there are arranged three hydraulic balancing elements 20 (FIG. 3) by means of which the mounting members can be braced against each other and can be balanced.

When the hydraulic roller feeding system is in the milling position shown in FIG. 1, this hydraulic roller feeding system 10 will by means of the lower supporting roller mounting member 2 press all rollers against each other. The upper supporting roller mounting member 3 will serve as counter bearing. The height of the locking groove 19 and of course also the locking pocket 18 is greater than the vertical movement of the lower roller mounting member 4 to be expected in the milling operation.

For purposes of exchanging the set of working rollers with the working roller mounting pieces 4 and 5, the lower supporting roller mounting members 2 are lowered into the position shown in FIG. 2. In this connection, first also the lower working roller mounting members 4 are lowered and with their supporting cams l4 engage and rest upon the roller exchange rails. Also the upper working roller mounting members 5 take part in the first portion of this lowering movement until their supporting cams likewise seat upon the roller exchange rails 13. In this position, the lower working roller mounting members 4 are disengaged from the guiding blocks 11 and thus can be moved in axial direction of the rollers. Inasmuch as the interlock between the two working roller mounting members 4 and 5 remains, however, the upper working roller mounting members 5 are taken along during this axial movement. In view of the arrangement of the balancing elements 20 in the guiding blocks 11, the balancing elements 20 do not take part in, nor are affected by, the roller exchange. A separation and subsequent connection of the hydraulic connections is not necessary.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the specific showing in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A four-high mill frame structure, which includes two oppositely located roller stands each being provided with window means and each comprising a lower mounting member and an upper mounting member in vertically spaced relationship to the pertaining lower mounting member, each two mounting members of one and the same stand being slidably arranged in the pertaining window means thereof, an upper and a lower supporting roller respectively supported by said upper and lower mounting members, each of said stands also comprising first and second working roller means superimposed upon each other and interposed between said upper and lower rollers of the pertaining stand, each of said stands also comprising first and second mounting means respectively supporting said first and second working roller means, a first and a second pair of guiding blocks respectively connected to said stands atthe respective windows, the guiding blocks of each pair of guiding blocks respectively being connected to opposite sides of the pertaining window for guiding said first and second mounting means along vertical and horizontal planes, hydraulic actuating means associated with and arranged below said lower mounting members of said stands and operable selectively to lift said first and second mounting means with the working rollers supported thereby into an elevated position corresponding to the working position of said first and second working rollers, said hydraulic actuating means also being operable selectively to lower said first and second mounting means with the working rollers supported thereby to a lowered position representing the working roller withdrawal and exchange position, and a first and a second pair of roller changing rail means respectively pertaining to said first and second pair of guiding blocks and being connected thereto for respectively slidably supporting said pairs of first and second mounting means of each of said stands being provided with male and female means operable in said working position of said first and second mounting means to automatically and to positively interlock and in said working roller removal and exchange position to be vertically disengaged from each other and to positively interlock in horizontal direction, said guiding blocks of each of said stands being provided with passage means, and said first and second mounting means being provided with extension means freely movable in the pertaining passage means in the axial direction of the pertaining working rollers when the latter with the pertaining first and second mounting means are in their lowered position.

2. A frame structure according to claim 1, in which said second mounting means represent the upper mounting means and are providing with outwardly extending arms extending over the adjacent second mounting means in elevated as well as in lowered position of said upper mounting means.

3. A frame structure according to claim 1, in which said guiding blocks of one stand are firmly connected to the guiding blocks of the other stand. 

1. A four-high mill frame structure, which includes two oppositely located roller stands each being provided with window means and each comprising a lower mounting member and an upper mounting member in vertically spaced relationship to the pertaining lower mounting member, each two mounting members of one and the same stand being slidably arranged in the pertaining window means thereof, an upper and a lower supporting roller respectively supported by said upper and lower mounting members, each of said stands also comprising first and second working roller means superimposed upon each other and interposed between said upper and lower rollers of the pertaining stand, each of said stands also comprising first and second mounting means respectively supporting said first and second working roller means, a first and a second pair of guiding blocks respectively connected to said stands at the respective windows, the guiding blocks of each pair of guiding blocks respectively being connected to opposite sides of the pertaining window for guiding said first and second mounting means along vertical and hoRizontal planes, hydraulic actuating means associated with and arranged below said lower mounting members of said stands and operable selectively to lift said first and second mounting means with the working rollers supported thereby into an elevated position corresponding to the working position of said first and second working rollers, said hydraulic actuating means also being operable selectively to lower said first and second mounting means with the working rollers supported thereby to a lowered position representing the working roller withdrawal and exchange position, and a first and a second pair of roller changing rail means respectively pertaining to said first and second pair of guiding blocks and being connected thereto for respectively slidably supporting said pairs of first and second mounting means of each of said stands being provided with male and female means operable in said working position of said first and second mounting means to automatically and to positively interlock and in said working roller removal and exchange position to be vertically disengaged from each other and to positively interlock in horizontal direction, said guiding blocks of each of said stands being provided with passage means, and said first and second mounting means being provided with extension means freely movable in the pertaining passage means in the axial direction of the pertaining working rollers when the latter with the pertaining first and second mounting means are in their lowered position.
 2. A frame structure according to claim 1, in which said second mounting means represent the upper mounting means and are providing with outwardly extending arms extending over the adjacent second mounting means in elevated as well as in lowered position of said upper mounting means.
 3. A frame structure according to claim 1, in which said guiding blocks of one stand are firmly connected to the guiding blocks of the other stand. 